College Football Thread

[DrHibbert]

Because it's never too early! :)

Go UW Huskies! How about more than 2 wins this year?!?!

[Drunkenmaster]

GO TIGERS! Game of the year: LSU v Auburn

[Drunkenmaster]

Mark Emmeret is the Chancellor at Washington. He's a pretty brilliant guy and did a lot for LSU before he left to return to Washington. I'm not sure why he hired Willingham, but if there isn't an improvement this year I'm confident that Emmeret will go out and find a first class coach like he did for us with Nick Saban.

[DrHibbert]

I think they're sticking with Willingham. It's a step up from Neuheisel/Gilbertson.

I put 2 bets while in Vegas, both longshots that will lose money. I put $5 on the field to win the championship, which would pay $320. This way I can root for an upstart to win it all. And I put $5 on Wisconsin because I think they're better than 125/1. Not that they have a real good chance, but that was the only one that I thought shouldn't be that low. They'll prove me wrong by going 0-11 now.

Emmert did great at LSU, as did Saban. Hopefully he'll bring some magic back to the UW, but I think we're still a few years off. Grady Sizemore (Indians) was supposed to play QB at UW but played baseball instead and we'd be a winning team right now if he had. Also, Zach Tuiasosopo did the same thing (Mariners farm system). But we got a guy coming in this fall (Jake Locker) who could have gone to pro baseball but is in at UW to play QB. That should make UW pretty good in 2-3 years.

How is LSU shaping up to be this year?

[Drunkenmaster]

The Tigers are looking pretty good. We have talent oozing from every oriface. If our running backs are healthy I see us finishing no worse than last years 11-2 record. We do, however, have games @Awburn, Fla, Tennessee, and Arkansas so that's going to be pretty tough. Apparently it's fashionable to think that LSU will be this years "Tennessee" and crumble because of our schedule and "quarterback controversy." Yeah, 3 parade All-Americans at QB seems like a problem every school would love to have but some SI and ESPN morons seem to see it as a problem. I don't think we'll contend for a NC this year because of the road schedule but next year will be a good year to do it since we'll have all the tough games at home.

Isn't it funny how Notre Dame seems to be the perrenial favorite. If I remember correctly, they didn't beat a top 25 team last year. I guess it helps when SI and ESPN are such obvious ND homers. Oh, well.

[DrHibbert]

Wow, looks like LSU should have a hell of a season. Those are tough away games. Yeah, I expect Notred Dame to falter too. They always seem to, somehow. I hate how they're always on NBC.

UW lost one of their top running backs, academically, so the news just gets worse and worse. I hope they get at least 5 wins this year.

[Drunkenmaster]

NCAA, please make Notre Dame and one other team join the Big Ten so we don't have to watch ND on NBC every week!

[DrHibbert]

And then please add 2 more teams to the Pac 10 so we can have a championship game & stuff. But make them shitty teams so UW can get a couple of wins.

[Drunkenmaster]

You could add any of the Big 12 North Teams and they could take on some CUSA teams and not much would change.

[DrHibbert]

Yeah, maybe. Colorado would be the most likely option. But they're pretty good some years. BYU is another possibility, and they are typically way overrated, so I wouldn't mind that. They've also mentioned San Diego State and Boise State. I think the problem (not with CU) is that the stadiums aren't big enough at those schools.

God I love college football! I can't wait for this season to start. I'm going to get the ppv package for sure.

[Drunkenmaster]

Here's an article by Trev Alberts. I didn't read it because I think he's a moron but he had LSU ranked 3rd, so eh...

The Return of Trev

Alberts' No. 1 isn't Ohio State
Aug. 25, 2006
By Trev Alberts

It has been a long time since I've had a chance to comment on college football. I realize there are probably a few of you who really enjoyed the fact that Trev was nowhere to be found last year as I took a redshirt (actually a grey shirt; I had to pay my own way).

But I'm thrilled to be back. I'm so blessed that CSTV has given me the chance to work with some of the most passionate college football fans out there, and I promise to be the same egomaniacal, know-it-all analyst that you have come to hate.

I promise that my analysis will go beyond the mundane and the obvious. Mundane and obvious analysis comes from people who have never played the game. Football is a great game, but just because you once covered a team for your local college rag or watched a lot of games does not make you an expert.

Analysis must be about more than simply saying a team is "making a statement" or commenting on how "athletic" a team is. True analysis takes courage. It takes grit and it takes work. That is what you are guaranteed with CSTV.

Enough with the self promotion! Let's move on to mind-numbing ramblings from the off-season...

Is it just me or were there an awful lot of off-season arrests, suspensions, etc?

I just don't buy the argument that increased media scrutiny is the reason for all the unrest. And it's not just the usual suspects; many big-time programs have suspended players for really important contests. See Miami. The `Canes get Florida State on Labor Day. No Ryan Moore and no Tyrone Moss. I just don't understand. These kids have so few opportunities and yet so many seem willing to squander them. Larry Coker's job status depends on 18-year-old kids making proper choices. I guess that's why top coaches make $2 million a year for coaching an amateur sport.

Speaking of amateurs, it seems as though these kids are less willing all the time to persevere at all. At such an early age they're told how special they are. Many institutions will go as far as guaranteeing them playing time. And so, when adversity comes, many simply leave. I remember my recruiting class at Nebraska in 1989. We had nine players of the 22 that were signed either transfer or quit. Most were highly-touted All-Americans. They hadn't had to work much in high school, so they were shocked when they found out they might have to earn something in college.

It seems that handling highly-touted incoming freshmen is one of the most demanding jobs that current head coaches have to deal with. I remember some very successful signings, and others that continue to haunt programs to this day.

Take Tennessee, for example. Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge were both highly-touted incoming quarterbacks. Two years ago, the Vols rotated quarterbacks and never established a team leader. Last year, Rick Clausen was thrown into the rotation. The end result? Schaeffer is now at Ole Miss, Ainge's development was retarded and Tennessee didn't develop the most crucial element of all successful football teams: leadership. Coach Phil Fulmer vows not to let that happen again. Needless to say, this is a very important year for Fulmer.

Two other high-profile schools face the same situation this season. Arizona State has already had its quarterback choice blow up in coach Dirk Koetter's face after he flip-flopped from Sam Keller to Rudy Carpenter. I really don't care about any report of "off the field" issues with Keller. To name him the starter and change your mind the next day smacks of a coach who realized that having a senior transfer was better than having a sophomore transfer at that position.

Meanwhile, Texas has two very talented freshmen at quarterback, Colt McCoy and Jevan Snead. One must be the starter. One must be the backup. The latter can play, but he cannot be co-starter. Longhorns fans must hope that the whole Chris Simms-Major Applewhite issue doesn't reinvent itself. Texas has enough talent to repeat, but not with rotating quarterbacks.

It is very simple to me. Look at most Top 25 polls. Teams at the top have solid, entrenched leadership from the most important position in college football, quarterback.

[Drunkenmaster]

Speaking of top teams, here is my Top 10. It must be noted, this initial list is simply the best 10 teams. I am not predicting how they will finish based on their schedules and opponents, just identifying the 10 best teams.

1. Auburn - The Tigers are loaded and new def. coordinator Will Muschamp is a stud.
2. Michigan - Relax. The talent that you oooohed and aaaahed about two years ago is back.
3. LSU - Great skill players. Sept.16 at Auburn will tell the tale.
4. Florida - If Urban can stay out of the way!
5. Ohio State - The only question is defense. Anyone better at reloading than Tressel?
6. USC - Best defense in the country.
7. Notre Dame - Just play zone!!
8. Texas - Just pick one QB, please.
9. Georgia - Three all star running backs.
10. West Virginia - Toughness defined.

Please note...once again the SEC is the best conference in football.

[Drunkenmaster]

Trev must be on some good drugs to imagine USC having the best defense in the country.

[DrHibbert]

I'm looking forward to Notre Dame/Georgia Tech next weekend. Cal/Tennessee should be a fun game to watch as well.

[Drunkenmaster]

I hope Notre Dame goes down early. I won't be able to otherwise stand the tantric-like building orgasm of the national media.

[DrHibbert]

Yeah, no kidding! For some reason, I think they will. They never live up to the hype. Oh and I don't think Charlie Weis is the god everyone makes him out to be.

[Drunkenmaster]

There's no way they could go undefeated. Look at their schedule:

http://und.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/nd-m-footbl-sched.html

[Drunkenmaster]

I hope Joe Pa beats their ass. Weiss is waaayyyyy overhyped.

[DrHibbert]

Michigan goes to South Bend on the 16th, that should be a hard fought game.

[DrHibbert]

Mark May is such a fucking moron. They've got him on GameDay with Lee and Kirk right now and he's spouting the same old inane, sarcastic bullshit. It drives me up the wall.

[Drunkenmaster]

Yeah, and he only occasionally likes LSU. I can't believe how much everyone is up Auburn's ass this year. I mean, yeah, they've got talent but they'll probably fall prey to having a weak non-conference schedule again even if they do magically go undefeated (which they won't). It is so rare for an SEC team to go undefeated. It might happen about once every 15 years or so.

[DrHibbert]

Surprised to see Auburn's only a 15-pt fav vs. WSU. WSU is not good, and has a terrible coach. I'll be rooting for them because they're Pac10, but they really ought to get stomped.

I see ND is only a 7.5-pt favorite at GA Tech, so I'm not the only one who thinks the Irish may have their hands full down there.

I'm hoping Oklahoma suffers a good number of horrendous injuries this weekend against UAB, so that when the Huskies go there on Sept. 9th they'll lose by 10 instead of 50.

[Drunkenmaster]

I hope OU tanks and starts to lose recruits!!

[Drunkenmaster]

I really thought Washington was going to take down OU today until they fumbled that ball right back inside the 10.

[Peter]

Because it's never too early! :)

Go UW Huskies! How about more than 2 wins this year?!?!

I remember way back when the Rose Bowl meant something and the Huskies won it. Good times...and let's not forget washington's favorite event - the apple cup.

[DrHibbert]

Way back when was like 2000, and I was there to see it.

From the little I've seen, Shaun, LSU looks flat amazing. Ohio State also looked awfully good last night in destroying Texas.

[Drunkenmaster]

You will know all you need to know about LSU after the Auburn game this week. I hope we can get the win on the road. Auburn is really, really good but we are definitely National Championship caliber.

[Drunkenmaster]

I hate to say it but Notre Dame looked good, too. I think Penn St. was maybe a tad overrated, though. Texas was, too. A Freshman QB and they're #2 in the nation over the likes of Auburn?

[Drunkenmaster]

We got jobbed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESgoMBi6d3g